Disorders and Alcohol Use
Mental health problems not only arise from consuming too much alcohol. They can even cause individuals to drink too much.
There is some evidence linking light drinking with improved overall health in some adults. Between 1 and 3 drinks on a daily basis have been found to help protect against heart disease, dementia, and Alzheimer's Disease, and a small glass of red wine daily may reduce risk of stroke in women. There is far more evidence demonstrating that drinking excessive alcohol results in serious bodily and mental illnesses. Stated very simply, a major reason for drinking alcohol is to change our mood - or change our mental state. Alcohol can temporarily alleviate feelings of anxiety and depression; it can even help to temporarily relieve the symptoms of more serious mental health problems. Alcohol issues are more common among individuals with more severe mental health issues. This does not necessarily mean that alcohol causes severe mental illness. Evidence shows that people who consume high amounts of alcohol are vulnerable to higher levels of mental ill health and it can be a contributory factor in some mental illnesses, such as depression.
How does drinking affect our moods and mental health?
When we have alcohol in our blood, our mood changes, and our behavior then also changes. How these change depends on how much we drink and how quickly we drink it. Alcohol depresses the central nervous system, and this can make us less inhibited in our behavior. It can even help 'numb' our emotions, so we can avoid difficult issues in our lives. Alcohol can even reveal or magnify our underlying feelings. When drinking, this is one of the reasons that many people become aggressive or angry. Anger or unhappiness, then alcohol can magnify them if our underlying feelings are of anxiety. What about the after-effects?
One of the main issues connected with using alcohol to deal with anxiety and depression is that people may feel much worse when the effects have worn off. Alcohol is thought to use up and reduce the amount of neurotransmitters in the brain, but the brain needs a certain level of neurotransmitters needs to ward off anxiety and depression. This can lead some people to drink more, to ward off these difficult feelings, and a dangerous cycle of dependence can develop.
Alcohol conditions are more common among people with more severe mental health issues. If our underlying feelings are of anger, anxiety or unhappiness, then alcohol can magnify them. One of the main issues associated with using alcohol to deal with anxiety and depression is that people may feel much worse when the effects have worn off. Alcohol is thought to use up and reduce the amount of neurotransmitters in the brain, but the brain needs a certain level of neurotransmitters needs to ward off anxiety and depression.
